The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a heartwarming and thought-provoking exploration of second chances and self-discovery. Cate’s journey feels authentic, filled with relatable doubts and unexpected twists that keep you hooked. It’s the kind of book that makes you reflect on your own choices while rooting for the main character’s happiness.

I think this was a good concept with a questionable execution. I liked the overall thread of the story but could not get into the characters. I think the biggest issue was the Sidney character. She behaved in a way that was heinous, and it was played off as if it was a relationship faux pas. If that character were a man, this would be a story about an abusive relationship. I think that emotional wrong note threw me off for the rest of the book. I liked Ryan and the portions of the book in Los Angeles. The house in Los Feliz may be the best character in the book. It is a very quick read. It feels more like a magazine article. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

I was interested in reading this book because the plot summary seemed very ambitious and a unique story. I think this sub-genre of fake memoirs can be very hit or miss because the character needs to feel like a real person. The author pulled it off relatively well, but there are still some things that I found hard to believe and occasionally the character motivations made no sense to me. I feel like this book has a lot of morally grey women trying to figure out who they are to the world and each other. The beginning of the book was definitely slow for me and the multi-pov was sometimes confusing because the storylines weren't always chronological. I did really enjoy this book though and the ending genuinely surprised me (in a good way). If you're looking for a mysterious, slightly twisted, book about the complications of friendship where most of the characters are queer, I suggest you pick this up!

Rating: 3.5/5

I always wonder about the author of books. Especially my favorite ones. Infact it's been a bit of a weird experience, with the age of social media that I can indeed readily see some of them. And I have been shocked by some and in shy giggles about others who might have even liked a comment of mine, ha!
And of course what we "see" on sm still isn't ever truth. Is it?
So with this book we get to know the author of a book. Or do we, because it turns out she isn't who she says she is or isn't who she can admit to. Confused? Yes well, you need to read it. Because it's worth every angle, trick, twist and point of view.
It's a book you wish to cover in school lit lessons so you can discuss for hours.
Brilliant new tale. One of not seen the like of.
I really do adore these sweeping you up, beautiful, and wrap you all up in them books. Ones that touch the soul.

*** The Four Lives of Kate Eff? ***

A novel within a novel, full with clues from a previous life. A mysterious author, and _where the author photo and bio would be just one sentence: This is Cate Kay's debut novel._ This is also Kate Fagan's debut novel. And just like with her protagonist Cate Kay, I did not know much more about Kate Fagan.

But she seems to love about writing that _most readers don't even consider the author_. The reader is directly immersed in a many-bottomed, high-speed story of intense childhood friendship, big dreams, betrayal, and a traumatic past. We find all the time secrets and clues before they are found by the characters in this drama. This could be predictable and boring. But it is not. The suspense is instead derived from constantly wondering, When and how will they find out?

I just ploughed through this book in less than two days and I already know this will be one of the best I read this year.

But I keep asking, Who is Kate Fagan? And _you know what, ironically, makes readers care about who has written the book? A pseudonym._ ;)

(based on an ARC from NetGalley)

This feels like “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” but if the book ended happy without me sobbing. I loved it. It was a quick-paced, light read that was easy to get through. I loved Annie/Cass/Cate. The book would be a five star, except for the fact that Sidney exists. She’s a caricature of a character. She’s so manipulative that it actually feels unreal to have to read her chapters. Plus, some of the dialogue felt a bit cringy (such as the interaction between Ryan and Cass where they talk about “cosmic bigness and Ryan says, “The phrase defined some unnamed thing within me.” That was extremely cringy). Other than that, I loved everything else! Amanda was my favorite, her voice was so strong and she knows who she is, she’s confident in it at the beginning and end

“I’d know her silhouette anywhere. I’d spent my childhood looking for her.”

“Love didn’t always mean staying.”
“We’re all so much more, and less, than our best, or worst moment.”

“Being closeted can make you angry. Without even knowing why, you’re acting like humanity is rotten at the core because how could a world denying love be any good at all.”

“I know everything we shared is threaded through you as it is me.”

“Only love can fill the black hole— that it’s the only thing worth chasing.”

This book was absolutely wonderful. It was so creatively written. We follow Annie as she navigates tragedy, success, love, growth, and so much more. This is the type of book where you learn something new after every read. I highly recommend this book.

I liked this a lot. It was unique -- definitely didn't know where it was going and liked where it ended up. I think some people will be perplexed by the ending, but I liked that it was vague and open to interpretation. Give it a try!!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay comes out next week on January 7, 2025, and you can purchase HERE!

Beneath the table I was twirling my thumbs. As I mentioned earlier, a key part of being a lawyer was playing with the silences. Or rather, enduring them. If you were always pouncing on a witness, my professors would explain, you'll never know their second thought-and the second thought was where the useful information lived.

My jaw has not left the floor since finishing this book yesterday. It truly has everything you could want in a contemporary/literary fiction book: hidden identities, twists, turns, compelling characters, romance and a deep view into relationships that make you look at yourself closer in the mirror.

Cate Kay has written the book of the century that’s being turned into a movie. A dream for anyone, truly! But, Cate Kay can’t even publicly enjoy her fame, as she is writing under a pseudonym that hides her true identity. Literally, no one knows who she is. In this multi-POV, time spanning novel, you get to dive into Cate Kay’s background-who is she, what influenced her, what happened to her to make her hide her identity?

I absolutely loved this book. I found the multi-POV perspective super engaging and different-allowing you to dive into each character differently and see “the truth” of the circumstances. There wasn’t a character I didn’t enjoy interacting with, and I found each character easy to fall back into when it was their turn to narrate. This book would be fantastic on audit too! I don’t want to describe many more of my thoughts, as they will spoil the book, but please do me a favor and pick this book up in the new year. It is truly a refreshing take on contemporary literature and I hope to this author continues to publish unique books like this one.

Absolutely loved this! I was so invested in the plot, the twists, the characters, and the relationships. It was so uniquely written and I was itching to read more. The relationships between characters were interesting and the banter between Amanda and Annie was my favourite.

Anne Marie Callahan is on the run - from herself. After her best friend is involved in a tragic accident, she assumes different identities - first, Cass Ford, and then later as the mysterious best-selling author, Cate Kay. With interweaving accounts from multiple characters, Fagan explores themes of love, identity, and the courage to face yourself.

These characters were stunning. Through all their flaws and tragedies, Fagan manages to give them depth, emotion, and connection that makes them quite memorable. Through all the timeline shifts and changing points of views, the book could have been confusing, but Fagan is masterful in how she crafts this story.

While there was a plot point or two that drove me crazy, overall, this story shines. I was a big fan of Fagan’s nonfiction/journalistic writing in What Made Maddy Run, but this book also demonstrates that Fagan has true talent in the fictional genre as well. I am excited to see if she continues to write fictionally, and this book is also the prompt I need to finally pick up another one of her books currently on my bookshelf: All the Colors Came Out.

3.5 💫

I’m so torn on this one. I didn’t feel super invested until at least 40% of the way in, but it did pick up and my interest was held enough to want to know how everything played out.
My favorite aspect of the book was obviously the friendship and sisterhood between Annie/Cass/Cate and Amanda 🤍

But that’s also where I struggled… (SPOILER? It’s in the description so idk) It was hard for me to believe that “Cate” just bounced completely, never once looking back or touching base whatsoever? I understand she had her own way of navigating and dealing with her trauma and heartbreak, but it was just a little unbelievable to me that she never would have known the truth about certain things. I don’t want to say more for fear of really spoiling.

The storyline was good. I love how “Cate” weaved details of her personal life into her novels, little hints here and there. I do think a lot of people are going to really enjoy this book! It comes out next week, already a January BOTM choice, so give it a try! Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for the eARC!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a beautifully written and engrossing story of trauma, love, self identify, and coping.

Fagan does a wonderful job of weaving the threads of Annie’s life together that I was so emotionally invested and just couldn’t put this book down. I loved the interplay of the various character perspectives which felt organic and provided such rich insights into the story. The characters of Annie, Amanda and Ryan were so endearing and relatable, and loved the little twists and nuggets of detail throughout the story which felt like we were getting the inside scoop.

The story is well paced and I really enjoyed Fagan’s writing style. Whilst the book dealt with some heavier topics, there was a strong sense of hope throughout, making this a truly absorbing read perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Thank you Atria Books for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Oh my goodness I loved this. I devoured this in two days and stayed up late, despite being tired, to finish because I just needed to know how it ended. Not to mention one of the settings is very close to me (Albany, NY) so seeing some of the local area landmarks included was a fun treat. Full review below.

Kate Fagan’s The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant story that immerses readers in the tangled lives of its complex characters. The novel shines with its multiple perspectives, offering a well-rounded view of events and relationships that feel both authentic and deeply human. Each character, no matter how flawed or unlikable at times, pulls you into their story, making it impossible to stop turning the pages. Fagan’s rich and engaging prose creates vivid settings that add depth to the narrative, transporting readers to every scene with ease.

What truly sets this book apart is its ability to make even questionable choices and imperfect personalities compelling. Fagan skillfully explores the messy, layered aspects of her characters’ lives, allowing readers to empathize with them despite their imperfections. Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Charmaine Wilkerson’s works will appreciate the similarly intricate storytelling and emotionally charged moments in this novel.

With its lovely writing and gripping narrative, The Three Lives of Cate Kay is a must-read for anyone who loves character-driven stories filled with depth and nuance. This book isn’t just a story; it’s an experience. I gave it a glowing 5-star rating and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read.

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for access to the eArc. This book comes out on Tuesday, January 7th.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay has been compared to Evelyn Hugo, which is one of my favorite books, so naturally, I want to read it. This book tells the story of an author named Cate Kay, and no one really knows who she is. In this fictional memoir, we delve into her life and discover why she chose to change her name three times. I find books like this very intriguing; when they are well written, I want to learn more about the character, which makes them feel more realistic. I really enjoyed the multi-timeline story, and it was a great first book of the year. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot and can't wait to read more from Kate Fagan. I highly recommend it if you like character driven stories. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Great read to start out 2025. If you like Taylor Jenksins Reid, you will enjoy The Three Lives of Cate Kay. Complicated relationships, deceit, writers and Hollywood. The recipe for a can't-put-it-down read.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley.

Cate Kay is a world famous author, but no one knows who she really is. She fled her hometown after a devastating accident changed her life, and the plans she had with her best friend. She used her grief and loneliness in writing the book that would make her famous. The Three Lives of Cate Kay reads like a biography of the writer, what led to her writing her story, and the impact it had on the world.

This book has been compared to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and I completely understand why, but this book is so much better. There are similar story elements, but at its core this is a book about finding one's identity, and forgiving oneself for past wrongs. It is a story about love, friendship and being true to who you are and who you love. There are elements of Hollywood throughout, but it is not the central setting for the story.

I first found Kate Fagan's writing with her story What Made Maddy Run, which intrigued me as an avid marathon runner, I'm always looking for great books about running. Maddy wasn't just a great running book, but a great book, so when I saw this fiction writing, I knew I had to grab it. Her writing was even better than I remembered. Fagan writes beautifully flawed characters that are well rounded and just trying to figure life out, like the rest of us. This book is my first of the year, but I know it's one I'll love and remember all the way to the end of 2025!

I loved this book for the first half and liked it for the second. Cate Kay has been 3 different people with three different names. She had a reason for all of them. The first part of the book is engaging with a character that shows grit and layers. During the last 3rd or so I started to wonder what happened to that woman. And it's kind of sad that almost all of this could have been avoided if just one character had been honest more than once in her life.

I absolutely loved this story within a story. This gave vibes of Daisy Jones and the Six. It has genres of romance, historical fiction, friendship and sisterhood. The characters were fully conceived and so dynamic. I loved the alternating timelines, it never felt confusing or overwhelming, it just aided in telling the story.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is an amazing story about the exploration of identity, queerness, and complexity of friendship. I loved this book. I was kind of confused at the beginning with so many characters, switching POVs, and names but quickly got into it, and from that point, I couldn't put it down.